The 1 April cuts to housing and other benefits will bring more fear, hunger, debt and homelessness across the UK.
This dark day will herald an escalation of campaigns against the Bedroom Tax and other vicious and unfair benefit cuts.
Linda Burnip of Disabled People Against Cuts says ' Britain's poorest and disabled citizens are being left to rot in increasing poverty and financially penalised for having one extra bedroom in their homes, while millionaire Nick Clegg jets off to spend Easter in a 20-bedroom mansion in Switzerland. We say that is far from fair or acceptable.' [1]
Protests in 52 towns and cities on Saturday 30th showed the growth and determination of local and national campaigns. From Scotland and Wales to Cornwall, protestors are demanding an end to the Bedroom Tax and cuts in council tax benefit, an end to Workfare and sanctions which leave families and others with no income, no cut to Disability Living Allowance, or any other benefits.
Benefit Justice brings together tenants groups, disabled peoples organisations, trade unions and benefits campaigners in an unstoppable and united campaign.
Eileen Short of Defend Council Housing says: 'Campaigns and direct action are building in confidence, encouraging trade unions and councillors into action. Tenants groups around the country are saying they will not pay these extra costs and are working to build resistance locally to stop evictions and make these benefit cuts unworkable.'
Benefit Justice is supporting the 13th April UKUncut protests against the Bedroom Tax
A Benefit Justice summit 11 May at Central Hall Westminster will bring together anti Bedroom Tax and other benefit campaigns across Britain. Speakers include Welsh Tenants Federation, Billy Hayes CWU union, John McDonnell MP, Disabled People Against Cuts, Chris Baugh PCS, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and other anti Bedroom Tax campaigns.
Notes
See BBC and Mirror reports on 30 March Bedroom Tax protests
People in poverty (21% of the population) including disabled people will bear 39% of all cuts, Disabled people (8%of the population) will bear 29%of all cuts and those most severely disabled (2% of the whole population) will bear 15% of all cuts. While tax fraud remains 15 times higher than benefit fraud Benefits for the poorest are being slashed by 22 times more than the rate of benefit fraud. See [1]http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/uploads/attachment/354/a-fair-society.pdf
Updates on the Benefit Justice summit at benefitjustice.wordpress.com
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